Interspecific tree named ‘Leah Cot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemagaurd’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif. with Standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:
         1. Fruit with an attractive orange skin color.   2. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality.   3. Fruit with an average Brix of 18.0° and a good balance between acid and sugar.   4. Regular and productive bearer of fruit.   5. Vigorous, semi-spreading tree growth.

Botanical classification: Interspecific Prunus species.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuingplant-breeding program including the organization and asexualreproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines,apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It wasagainst this background of our activities that the present variety ofinterspecific tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in ourexperimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.

PRIOR VARIETIES

Among the existing varieties of apricot and interspecific trees, whichare known to us, and mentioned herein, ‘Cot-N-Candy’ Interspecific (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 17,827) and the proprietary interspecific ‘42ZC692’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The new variety of interspecific tree, a combination of crosses between(Prunus armeniaca and Prunus salicina) was originated by us in ourexperimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif. from an openpollinated proprietary interspecific seedling selection with theidentification number ‘42ZC692’. The seed parent (42ZC692) originatedfrom an open pollinated seedling selection grown from the interspecifictree ‘Cot-N-Candy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,827). A large number of theseopen pollinated seedlings were budded on established trees of‘Nemagaurd’ Rootstock (non-patented) to enhance earlier fruit productionand under close and careful observation the present seedling exhibiteddesirable fruit and tree characteristics and was selected in 2003 forasexual propagation and commercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

Asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of interspecifictree was by budding to ‘Nemagaurd’ Rootstock (non-patented), asperformed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto,Calif., and shows that reproductions run true to the original tree andall characteristics of the tree and its fruit are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present new variety of interspecific tree,[Apricot×((Plum×Plumcot)×Plumcot)×Apricot]×[unknown pollen] is of largesize, vigorous, semi-spreading growth and a productive and regularbearer of large size, orange flesh, freestone fruit with very goodflavor and eating quality. The fruit is further characterized by havingfirm flesh, an attractive orange skin color, being relatively uniform insize and maturity throughout the tree and having good handling, storageand shipping quality, with an average Brix of 18.0°. In comparison tothe immediate interspecific parent (42ZC692), the fruit of the newvariety has orange flesh and skin compared to yellow, is larger in sizeand is higher in soluble solids (Brix). In comparison to theinterspecific ‘Cot-N-Candy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,827), the newvariety has orange flesh and skin compared to light whitish yellow andis higher in Brix.

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VARIETY

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimensof the foliage and fruit of the present new interspecific variety. Theillustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, anexterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its sutureplane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place.The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked(shipping ripe) from a 7 year old tree and the colors are as nearly trueas is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety ofinterspecific tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based onobservations of 7 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., withcolor in accordance with Munsell Book of Color.

-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Large, usually pruned to 3 to 3.5 meters in height and            width for economical harvesting of fruit, varies with            different cultural practices.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous, tree growth of approximately 1.5 to 2            meters in height the first growing season. Varies with type            and fertility of soil, climatic conditions and cultural            practices.        -   Form.—Semi-spreading, usually pruned to vase shape.        -   Branching habit.—Semi-spreading, crotch angle approximately            40°, increases with heavy crop load.        -   Productivity.—Productive, thinning and spacing of fruit            necessary for desired marketable size. Fruit set varies with            climatic conditions during blooming period.        -   Bearer.—Regular, adequate fruit set 5 consecutive years. No            alternate bearing observed.        -   Fertility.—Self fertile, sets fruit under bag.        -   Density.—Medium dense, pruned to vase shape to allow            sunlight to center of tree to enhance fruit color and health            of fruit spurs.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of            California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter            chilling requirement approximately 850 hours at or below 45°            F.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 49.8 cm at 25.4 cm above            ground on a 7 year old tree.        -   Stocky.—Medium stocky.        -   Texture.—Medium shaggy, becomes rougher with age.        -   Color.—Varies from 7.5YR 2/2 to 10YR 4/2.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 14.3 cm at 1.2 meters            above ground. Crotch angle approximately 40°, increases with            heavy crop load.        -   Surface texture.—New growth smooth. Mature growth medium            rough, becomes rougher with age.        -   Lenticels.—Size — medium. Average number 16 in a 25.8 sq cm            area of branch. Average length 3.4 cm. Average width 1.4 cm.            Color varies from 2.5Y 7/10 to 2.5Y 6/10.        -   Color.—New growth varies from 2.5YR 3/4 to 5GY 4/6. Old            growth varies from 2.5YR 2/4 to 5YR 2/4, varies with age of            growth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large. Average length 97.4 mm. Average width            85.8 mm.        -   Form.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Doubly serrate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface texture.—Upper surface relatively smooth, slightly            indented over Midrib and leaf veins, glabrous. Lower surface            relatively smooth, small ridges created by midrib and            pinnate venation, glabrous.        -   Petiole.—Average length 43.5 mm. Average width 1.8 mm.            Longitudinally grooved, very shallow. Surface — glabrous.            Color varies from 7.5R 3/6 to 2.5GY 6/6, color varies with            exposure to sunlight.        -   Glands.—Type — globose. Size — small. Average length 0.6 mm.            Average diameter 0.3 mm. Number varies from 1 to 3, average            number 2. Located primarily on upper portion of petiole and            base of leaf blade. Color varies from 2.5GY 5/4 to 2.5GY            5/6.        -   Stipules.—None observed on mature leaves.        -   Color.—Upper surface varies from 5GY 3/6 to 7.5GY 3/4. Lower            surface varies from 5GY 4/4 to 5GY 3/4. Midvein color varies            from 2.5GY 7/6 to 5GY 7/6.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 14.7 mm. Average diameter 8.5            mm.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of            California.        -   Form.—Conical, becoming slightly elongated before opening.        -   Pedicel.—Average length 1.9 mm. Average width 1.7 mm. Color            varies from 2.5GY 7/6 to 5GY 8/6.        -   Color.—Varies from N9.5/ (white) to 7.5RP 5/12.        -   Number of buds per spur.—Average number 2, varies from 1 to            3.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—Date of First Bloom Feb. 25, 2009. Date of            Petal Fall Mar. 8, 2009, varies slightly with climatic            conditions.        -   Size.—Medium to large. Average height 17.7 mm. Average            diameter 27.8 mm.        -   Petals.—Number 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Average            length 15.2 mm. Average width 14.9 mm. Margin — entire. Both            upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Shape — orbicular. Color            varies from N9.5/ (white) to 7.5RP 5/10, fades with age of            flower.        -   Sepals.—Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Shape —            triangular. Margin — entire. Average length 6.7 mm. Average            width 5.4 mm. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous. Color            — upper surface 5GY 8/4 to 2.5R 2/8. Lower surface 2.5R 2/6            to 5R 2/6.        -   Stamens.—Average number per flower 29. Average filament            length 11.7 mm. Filament color N9.5/ (white). Anther color            varies from 5Y 8.5/8 to 5Y 8/10.        -   Pollen.—Abundant. Self fertile, sets fruit under bag. Color            varies from 5Y 8/10 to 5Y 7/10.        -   Pistil.—Number — normally one. Surface — pubescent. Average            length 16.6 mm. Position of stigma to anthers — even. Color            varies from 7.5Y 8.5/6 to 10Y 8/6.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate aroma.        -   Color.—Varies from N9.5/ (white) to 7.5RP 5/10, fades with            age of flower.        -   Number flowers per flower bud.—Usually one, varies from 1 to            3.        -   Pedicel.—Average length 2.1 mm. Average width 1.8 mm. Color            varies from 2.5GY 8/6 to 5GY 7/6.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe.        -   Date of first picking.—Jun. 10, 2009.        -   Date of last picking.—Jun. 20, 2009, varies slightly with            climatic conditions.        -   Size.—Medium. Average diameter axially 55.9 mm. Average            transversely in suture plane 57.7 mm. Average across suture            plane 53.4 mm. Average weight 90.9 grams, varies slightly            with fertility of the soil, amount of thinning and climatic            conditions.        -   Form.—Slightly elongated.        -   Suture.—Slightly lipped.        -   Ventral surface.—Shallow, extends from base to apex.        -   Apex.—Slightly retuse.        -   Base.—Varies from flat to slightly retuse.        -   Stem cavity.—Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane.            Average depth 3.0 mm. Average diameter 5.0 mm.-   Stem:    -   -   Size.—Small. Average length 6.7 mm. Average diameter 3.4 mm.        -   Color.—Varies from 2.5GY 5/8 to 5GY 5/8.-   Flesh:    -   -   Ripens.—Evenly.        -   Texture.—Firm, apricot texture, smooth and juicy.        -   Fibers.—Few, small, tender.        -   Firmness.—Firm, comparable to commercial apricots.        -   Aroma.—Moderate to heavy.        -   Amydgalin.—Undetected.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.        -   Flavor.—Very good, good balance between acid and sugar.        -   Juice.—Moderate amount, enhances flavor.        -   Brix.—Average Brix 18.0°, varies slightly with amount of            fruit per tree and climatic conditions.        -   Color.—Varies from 6.25YR 6/12 to 6.25YR 7/14. Pit cavity            varies from 6.25YR 7/14 to 8.75YR 7/12.-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Slightly waffled.        -   Pubescence.—Moderate pubescence, short in length.        -   Tendency to crack.—None.        -   Color.—Ground color varies from 6.25YR 7/12 to 6.25YR 6/12.            Overspread with 6.25R 4/12.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—None.-   Stone:    -   -   Type.—Freestone.        -   Size.—Medium. Average length 24.2 mm. Average width 21.1 mm.            Average thickness 14.3 mm.        -   Form.—Obovoid.        -   Base.—Flat.        -   Apex.—Slightly pointed. Average length 0.7 mm.        -   Surface.—Lightly pitted throughout, a shallow groove on each            side of suture extending from base to apex.        -   Sides.—Unequal, one side extending further from suture            plane.        -   Ridges.—Very narrow, a small ridge near groove on each side            of suture.        -   Tendency to split.—None.        -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 4/4 to 2.5Y 3/4.-   Kernel:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 18.2 mm. Average width 13.1 mm.            Average depth 9.2 mm.        -   Form.—Ovate.        -   Viability.—Viable, complete embryo development.        -   Skin.—Color varies from 5Y 9/2 to 7.5Y 9/2.-   Use: Dessert. Market — local and long distance.-   Keeping quality: Relatively good, held firm in cold storage 12 days    at 38° to 42° F. without shriveling, internal breakdown of flesh or    appreciable loss of eating quality.-   Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal flesh bruising or skin    scarring during picking, packing and shipping trials.-   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing    for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been    designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and    harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions    near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance    or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection    observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal    fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and    eliminated from our breeding program.

The present new variety of interspecific tree, its flowers, foliage andfruit herein described may vary in slight detail due to climate, soilconditions and cultural practices under which the variety may be grown.The present description is that of the variety grown under theecological conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif.

1. A new and distinct interspecific tree, substantially as illustratedand described.